LONG BEACH, Calif.: The Boeing Company delivered the United Kingdomâ€™s seventh C-17 Globemaster III to the Royal Air Force (RAF) today during a ceremony at Boeingâ€™s final assembly facility in Long Beach.

"The addition of a seventh C-17 to our fleet is a significant milestone that strengthens our support of operations worldwide, especially in Afghanistan," said Peter Luff, UK Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology. "And next year, in May, weâ€™ll mark the 10th anniversary of the delivery of the RAF's first C-17, which continues to perform superbly -- anytime and anywhere."

The United Kingdom's fleet of C-17s has logged more than 60,000 flight hours, and this year supported humanitarian and disaster-relief missions to Pakistan, Haiti and Chile. Assigned to 99 Squadron at RAF Brize Norton near Oxford, C-17s provide critical airlift capability for the nationâ€™s Joint Rapid Reaction Force. Brize Norton is the RAF's main operating base for strategic air transport and air-to-air refueling.

The C-17 is the world's only tactical airlift aircraft with strategic capabilities that allow it to fly between continents and land on short, austere runways.

"The C-17 provides rapid-response capability for relief missions where no other strategic airlifter can land," said Rick Heerdt, Boeing vice president and C-17 program manager. "We are proud to be your partner on every one of those missions."

Boeing supports the RAF's C-17s through the C-17 Globemaster III Sustainment Partnership, a Performance-Based Logistics program. The arrangement provides the RAF with the benefits of complete "virtual fleet" access and an extensive support network. The virtual fleet concept enables C-17 customers, especially those with smaller numbers of aircraft, to benefit from worldwide parts availability and economies of scale when purchasing materials.

Boeing has delivered 224 C-17s worldwide, including 20 with international customers. The U.S. Air Force -- including active National Guard and Reserve units -- has taken delivery of 204. Other customers include the Canadian Forces, the Royal Australian Air Force, the United Arab Emirates Air Force and Air Defence, the Qatar Emiri Air Force, and the 12-member Strategic Airlift Capability initiative of NATO and Partnership for Peace nations. U.S. President Barack Obama announced this month that India and the United States have reached a preliminary agreement for the Indian Air Force to acquire 10 C-17s.

A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is one of the world's largest defense, space and security businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world's largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is a $34 billion business with 68,000 employees worldwide.

The UK Ministry of Defence (UK MoD) will make changes to the Royal Navy's surface fleet, which includes the withdrawal from service of HMS Illustrious and the four remaining Type 22 frigates, announced Defence Secretary Liam Fox.

In a written ministerial statement to parliament Wednesday, Liam Fox said that HMS Illustrious will be withdrawn from service in 2014 and HMS Ocean will be retained to provide the landing platform helicopter capability for the longer term, as reported in a news release by the UK MoD.

Four frigates will also be withdrawn from service. These are the remaining Type 22s: HMS Chatham, Campbeltown, Cumberland and Cornwall.

Chatham will be withdrawn from service at the end of January 2011, Campbeltown and Cumberland will follow on 1 April, and Cornwall at the end of April.

HMS Ark Royal will be finally withdrawn from service at the end of this year.

The Bay Class amphibious support ship will be withdrawn from service in April 2011. The Auxiliary Oiler RFA Bayleaf and the Auxiliary Oiler Replenishment vessel RFA Fort George will also be withdrawn from service in April next year.

The government unveiled the plans in October as part of a sweeping defence review which also included proposals to scrap 17,000 service personnel from the army, navy and air force by 2015, according to media reports.

The Ministry of Defence is facing cuts to its budget of eight percent over the next five years.

The Harrier, informally referred to as the Jump Jet, were official retired Wednesday, more than 40 years after they came into service.

The Harrier jets â€“ which took part in operations in Sierre Leone, Iraq and Afghanistan, and which is still in service on US warships â€“ flew over their base at RAF Cottesmore in the east Midlands for the last time.

A formation of 16 aircraft took to the skies over Lincolnshire, flying over seven RAF bases, Lincoln Cathedral and the towns of Stamford and Oakham.

The aircraft were first built in 1960 and entered into service with the RAF in 1969, becoming famous for their ability to take off and land vertically and to hover above the ground.

The RAF and Royal Navy Harrier squadrons joined forces in 2000 to form Joint Force Harrier, based at RAF Cottesmore.

"The Harrier is a true icon and stands testament to the innovation and excellence of British design and engineering, and the skill and courage of our airmen. It has had a truly distinguished service with both the RAF and the Royal Navy, from the South Atlantic to the skies over Afghanistan. It now takes its place in history as one of aviation's greats," Air Officer Commanding No 1 Group, Air Vice-Marshal Greg Bagwell, was quoted as saying in an UK MoD news report.

The Illustrious class aircraft carrier, along with the Ark Royal, and the four remaining Type 22 frigates â€“ HMS Chatham, Campbeltown, Cumberland and Cornwal, will be withdrawn from service as a result of the defence review Liam Fox, the defence secretary, announced Wednesday, as per media reports.